Berlin -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The outbreak of E. coli in Germany has killed several more people and sickened hundreds , authorities said Tuesday .

News reports citing local authorities reported 16 deaths linked to E. coli in some raw vegetables . CNN has confirmed at least 12 deaths .

As more people have died , the outbreak has shown itself to be spreading geographically as well . No longer contained in northern Germany , the outbreak has killed at least two people in the western part of the country .

One of the 16 deaths was in Sweden . A woman died after visiting Germany , the Swedish Ministry for Health and Social Affairs said .

The Robert Koch Institute , Germany 's federal unit responsible for disease control and prevention , said 373 people have been confirmed sickened . But figures coming in from local authorities and hospitals made clear many more people are believed to be infected .

`` Here in Hamburg we 're pretty much at the epicenter , '' Jorg Debatin , medical director of the Hamburg Medical Center , told CNN . His hospital has 600 to 700 infected patients , Debatin said . About 20 % to 30 % of them develop hemolytic-uremic syndrome , or HUS , `` a very severe complication , '' he said .

The hospital is especially concerned about 85 patients -- 20 children and 65 adults -- who may go into renal failure and develop neurologic symptoms , he said .

Sweden 's health ministry said there have been 39 confirmed cases of people sickened by E. coli in Sweden , 16 of which are being investigated for complications caused by HUS . All 39 patients recently visited 39 Germany .

No contaminated vegetables have been reported in Sweden , the ministry said .

While authorities in Germany worked to contain and respond to the outbreak , the specific cause remained unclear .

The European Food Safety Alert Network said EHEC , or enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli , a strain of E. coli that causes hemorrhage in the intestines , was found in organic cucumbers originating from Spain , packaged in Germany , and distributed to countries including Austria , the Czech Republic , Denmark , Germany , Hungary , Luxembourg and Spain .

But the source has not yet been pinpointed , authorities said .

Hans-Joachim Breetz , executive director of Hamburg 's Institute for Sanitation and Environment , said it can take days or weeks to find a source of infection .

In the meantime , `` the warning remains not to eat raw cucumbers , leaf lettuce or tomatoes , '' said Cornelia Pruefer-Storcks ,

Hamburg 's top official for health and consumer protection .

European Union spokeswoman Pia Ahrenkilde-Hansen told CNN that German authorities were examining cucumber batches from the Spanish cities of Almeria and Malaga as potential sources of infection . She also said a shipment originating in Denmark or the Netherlands is being checked .

The questions surrounding produce from Spain have `` paralyzed '' vegetable exports , a spokeswoman for Fepex , the Spanish export producers group for vegetables and fruits , said Tuesday .

The industry in Spain expects weekly losses of about 200 million euros -LRB- $ 288 million -RRB- , Fepex officials said .

Fepex President Jorge Brotons and Director General Jose Maria Pozancos called on Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero to step in , the spokeswoman said . The Fepex officials argue that German authorities have accused the Spanish cucumber of being the source of the outbreak , without proof .

Spanish Health Minister Leire Pajin discussed the outbreak on Twitter . `` In the absence of proof . we 're not ruling out using all necessary measures to make sure there 's compensation for the -LRB- economic -RRB- damage , '' she wrote . `` From the first day , the government launched a diplomatic offensive to prevent the linking of this health crisis with our products . ''

Germany is the top purchaser of Spain 's produce , according to Fepex . In 2010 , Spain exported 9.4 million tons of produce ; a quarter of that went to Germany , Fepex said .

A Spanish health ministry spokesman told CNN that Spanish authorities are investigating the outbreak . Initial results that could cite a potential casue are expected by Thursday , or possibly as early as Wednesday , the spokesman said .

Spanish authorities are sharing their investigative results with German and European Union authorities , the spokesman added .

The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition said two Spanish companies producing cucumbers may be involved in the outbreak . The agency was awaiting further results from Germany 's investigation .

The Robert Koch Institute said Germany 's Federal Institute for Risk Assessment `` advised against eating raw tomatoes , cucumbers and lettuces to prevent further cases . ''

CNN 's Frederik Pleitgen and Eileen Hsieh contributed to this report .

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NEW : A cucumber batch from Denmark or the Netherlands is being checked , an EU spokeswoman said

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NEW : Spain 's health minister says the country would use `` all necessary measures '' to pursue compensation

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Media report 16 deaths linked to the outbreak , including 1 in Sweden

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The specific source has not been pinpointed